Items of Historical Interest in the Development and
Commercialization of EVs

- B -

B & Z Electric Car Co.

Beginning in 1961 in Long Beach CA, and later in Signal Hill
CA, the B &Z were probably best known for producing the
Electra King, although they were reported to make both a 1/4-ton
truck and a 1/2 ton pickup, named Ranchos. The cars were referred
to as deluxe and economy coupes, and a surrey. They were still
operating in 1981, but appear to have succumbed some time since
then. prices ranged in 1974 from US$2180. to US$3395. Picture
of 3-wheeler Electra King (B&W - 24k) (courtesy W.
Zablosky)Picture of 4-wheeler Electra
King (B&W - 19k) (courtesy W. Zablosky)

Electra King

The Electra King was a light 2-seater runabout with an enclosed
body. 3 and 4-wheeler versions were produced. The 4-wheeler was
not in production from 1968 to 1970. These cars were designed for
short-range, low-speed missions like running errands. Literature
indicates ranges per charge from 40 to 60 km, and maximum speeds
up to 40 km/h, and either 4 or 6 batteries being used, depending
on the model and year of production.

Bailey

The firm of S.R. Bailey & Co. of Amesbury, MA produced
electric cars from 1907 to 1915. Various models were produced. An
example of the 1913 2-seater electric runabout is in the
collection of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn MI.

Baker

The Baker Motor Vehicle Co. of Cleveland, OH was an industry
leader for the duration of its operations from 1899 to 1916.
Several models were offered over the years, from 2-seaters to
limousines. In 1915, Baker absorbed the R.M. Owen Co., which built
the Owen Magnetic. After the heyday of the on-road electrics were
over in the early 20th century, the Baker company survived in the
industrial vehicle market. The Linde-Baker company is the
corporate descendent of the original Baker Motor Vehicle Co.
Walter C. Baker, the founder of the company, constructed and drove
the 1902 Baker Torpedo established a land-speed record over 1 km.
There is an example of a 1908 Baker electric in the holdings of
the Canadian National Museum of Science and Technology. There is a
1901 Baker Runabout in the holdings of the Henry Ford Museum in
Dearborn MI. A correspondent has informed that there is a 1914
Baker Stanhope in the holdings of the Imperial Palace in Las
Vegas, NV.Photo of 1904 Baker (colour -
34k) courtesy Ben Parker/John Sprinkler/Lew
Miller(owner)Photo of 1908 Baker
(colour - 178k) 1908 Baker Model Line
advertisement (colour - 161k)Queen
Victoria advertisement (May 1909) (colour - 84k) Period
advertisement (November 1909) (B&W - 105k) 1912
Baker advertisement (colour - 79k)

Barrows

The Barrows Vehicle Co. of Willimantic CN produced 3-wheeler
electrics in 1897 and 1898. The cars were 2-seaters, with the
drive on the single front wheel. They may have had a significant
distribution outlet in New York.

B.A.T. International

The Battronic Truck Corporation of Boyertown PA has produced a
variety of commercial and utility electric vehicles, including
trucks, vans and mini-buses, over a period of decades. Battronic
hits its peak in 1973, courtesy of the OPEC oil squeeze, producing
107 vans that year. A Battronic stepvan and a Battronic bus were
purchased by the Canadian Department of National Defence in the
late 1970's. The Battronic step van was sold to an individual in
Ottawa and now sits in a field in rural Quebec as a storage shed.
Disposition of the Battronic bus is unknown. A Battronic Minivan
was purchased by Hydro-Quebec in 1975. A Battronic van was
purchased by BC Hydro in 1974, which was subsequently sold to a
private company in Abbotsford BC. A Model MO96NLB van was
purchased by the Province of Manitoba in 1976, which was later
acquired by a private individual in Willowdale ON. A Battronic van
operated by Philadelphia Electric was donated to Cinnaminson High
School in New Jersey in 1984.

Bergmann

Bersey

Based in Lambeth, London, S.E., England, W.C. Bersey built an
electric omnibus in the 1880's, and produced electric cars from
1895 to 1899. These included Bersey cabs that operated in London,
England from 1897 to 1899. The cabs are remembered for the fact
that the Prince of Wales rode in one in November 1897. The Bersey
cabs had a removable battery box to allow the exchange of charged
batteries for a discharged pack.

B.G.S.

La societe de la voiture Bouquet, Garcin et Schivre of 12 Ave
de Madrid, Neuilly, France produced electric cars from 1899 to
1906. They produced a range of vehicles from dogcarts to small
buses, and including phaetons con commercial vehicles. One of
their cars established a one-charge range record of 262 km (about
180 miles) in 1899. The company produced their own batteries for
use in the vehicles.

Binney-Burnham

Binney and Burnham- Boston, Mass. USA, 1899-1902

Blakeslee

Cleveland Ohio, USA, 1906-1907

Bleichert

The Bleichert Transportanlagen GmbH of Leipzig, Germany
produced a small 2-seater electric car from 1936 to 1939.

Blondel-Crepin

B.M.A.

Hazelcar

B.M.W.

Nope, not the Bavarian Motor Works, but the Boulevard Machine
Works of Los Angeles CA. Beginning in 1949, this firm produced
electric mini-cars and golf-carts. In 1966 they built a larger
roadster, which probably operated on 48 volts worth of lead-acid
golf-cart batteries powering 2 motors, for which they claimed a
maximum speed of 70 mph.

As of late 1999, there are indications that Bombardier is
withdrawing from the electric car market, after spending in excess
of (estimated) US$25,000,000 to get into it starting in late 1997.

Borbein

The H.F. Borbein Co.- St. Louis, Mo, USA , 1903

Borland

Also known as Borland-Grannis. The Borland-Grannis Co. appears
to have operated in Chicago IL from 1903 to 1914, and from 1914 to
1916 in Saginaw MI. There may have been some sort of merger with
Broc or Argo or both in the operations in Saginaw. The Borlands
used General Electric motors and a shaft drive.

Boyertown Trolley is still in operation (as of 1998) in
Pensacola FL. They produce trolleys, trams and trucks. Drive
trains include gasoline, diesel and electric - both battery and
overhead wire/pantograph versions. This company purchased the
assets of Battronic Truck Corporation in 1990, and still have the
engineering drawings used by Battronic. Check out their website
for details of some of their vehicles. Image
of 1997 Tram operating in Barbados (colour - 156K)

Bradley

Bradley was known for producing fibreglass body kits for
converting VW Beetle chassis to a low slung sportster with
gull-wing doors, known as the Bradley GT. In the wake of the
1970's OPEC oil squeeze, they also provided a package of
components that permitted conversion of the vehicle to electric
power - mating an electric motor to the original manual
tranmission. Bradley did build some of these cars themselves for
sale as turnkey vehicles ready to be driven by the purchaser.
These electric versions were known as the Bradley GTE (the "E"
suffix for electric). The also produced a Ford T-Bird
(Thunderbird) replicar called the Veebird, that was also available
in an electric version.

Brecht

Briggs & Stratton

Known primarily as makers of small air-cooled gasoline-powered
engines, Briggs & Stratton commissioned the construction of an
electric hybrid utilizing one of their engines. The base chassis
was a Marathon C-360 van, which is clear when you see the unique
6-wheel layout. The custom body bore a strong resemblance to a
station wagon, and the demonstration vehicle received considerable
media attention in 1980. Briggs & Stratton claimed the vehicle
was capable of travelling 85 miles on a gallon of gasoline. The
vehicle is held by the Briggs & Stratton museum.Image
of B&S Hybrid (colour - 154k) (courtesy W. Zablosky)

Britannia

Broc

The Broc Carriage & Wagon Co, originally of Cleveland, OH,
and later of Saginaw, MI, produced electric cars from 1909 to
1916. They offered as many as four models during any year. They
manufactured stanhopes, Victorias, coupes, a brougham Model 32 and
a double drive brougham. Series motors were used with either chain
or shaft drives, depending on the year and model. Some vehicles
used front drive and others used rear drive. In 1914, the company
was merged with Argo and Borland.
The company President was Mr. F.A. Brand.Image
of Broc Stanhope Model 20 (B&W - 128k) (courtesy W.
Zablosky)

Brush Pony Milk Float

There is a 1947 Brush Pony Electric Milk Float (electric) in
the (British) National Motor Museum (Beaulieu) collection. There
is another in the collection of the Ipswich Transport Museum.